As part of activities marking the 35th anniversary of ASEAN - Russia relations and a number of bilateral engagements in Russia, Prime Minister Le Minh Hung met with Russian President Vladimir Putin on June 18.

President Vladimir Putin warmly welcomed Prime Minister Le Minh Hung and the high-level Vietnamese Government delegation to Kazan, expressing appreciation for Vietnam's close coordination and active contributions to the success of the summit commemorating the 35th anniversary of ASEAN - Russia relations.

The Russian President affirmed that Vietnam is one of Russia's most important partners and a steadfast friend in the region, playing a significant role in connecting Russia with ASEAN member states and promoting Russia's cooperation initiatives in the region. He highly valued the substantive achievements attained by the two countries in recent years, particularly the increasingly strengthened political relationship built on a high level of mutual trust, which serves as a solid foundation for expanding bilateral cooperation across various fields.

Recalling his recent meetings and exchanges with Vietnam's key leaders, President Putin conveyed his regards and congratulations once again to Party General Secretary To Lam and other senior Vietnamese leaders. He expressed confidence that, in his new position as Prime Minister, Le Minh Hung, together with ministers of the new Vietnamese Government, would continue working closely with Russia to further strengthen the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two countries across all sectors.

At the meeting, Prime Minister Le Minh Hung expressed his pleasure at visiting Russia for the first time in his new capacity. He conveyed greetings from Party General Secretary To Lam and other leaders of the Party and State of Vietnam to President Vladimir Putin, while congratulating both sides on the successful summit commemorating the 35th anniversary of ASEAN-Russia relations, which has contributed to strengthening practical and mutually beneficial cooperation between Russia and ASEAN member states.

The Prime Minister reaffirmed that the leaders of the Party, State and Government of Vietnam consistently regard Russia as one of the country's leading partners in its foreign policy. He stressed that despite ongoing global uncertainties, the traditional friendship between Vietnam and Russia has continued to develop positively across multiple areas.

The Prime Minister stated that the new Vietnamese Government wishes to continue working with the Russian Government to implement agreements reached between Party General Secretary To Lam and President Vladimir Putin, with the aim of elevating bilateral cooperation across all fields. He noted that following the General Secretary's visit to Russia in May 2025, Vietnamese leaders assigned relevant agencies to develop specific implementation plans for the agreed outcomes and regularly report on the progress of high-level agreements. In that spirit, the Prime Minister proposed that President Putin continue supporting efforts to effectively implement the cooperation agreements already reached.

During the meeting, Prime Minister Le Minh Hung and President Vladimir Putin exchanged views on orientations and measures aimed at creating breakthroughs in bilateral cooperation, generating more substantive outcomes and further strengthening the long-term foundation of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for the benefit of national development in both countries.

The two sides agreed to enhance regular and substantive dialogue through all channels and at all levels, while maintaining exchanges between senior leaders to promptly discuss bilateral and multilateral issues. They also agreed that defense and security cooperation remains a strategic pillar of bilateral relations and should be expanded through stronger cybersecurity cooperation and exchanges between military personnel of the two countries.

Recognizing that Vietnam - Russia cooperation is entering a period of significant opportunities and potential, and based on agreed cooperation orientations, Prime Minister Le Minh Hung and President Vladimir Putin agreed to promote negotiations to facilitate the early implementation of the Ninh Thuan 1 Nuclear Power Plant project. They reaffirmed that energy cooperation, including oil and gas and nuclear power, remains one of the key pillars of Vietnam - Russia relations and should proceed according to the agreed roadmap.

The two leaders also agreed on future directions for cooperation in trade and investment, science and technology, education and training, transportation, culture and tourism, with the aim of deepening bilateral ties.

In economic and trade cooperation, both sides expressed determination to raise two-way trade turnover to USD 15 billion at an early date. They agreed to continue cooperation in mining industries, transportation, shipbuilding, railway modernization, expansion of transport corridors and international railway routes passing through China.

Prime Minister Le Minh Hung proposed that Russia create more favorable conditions for Vietnamese products, particularly agricultural goods, to access the Russian market. He also called for the removal of restrictions on several seafood processing facilities exporting to Russia and the expansion of the list of enterprises eligible to export such products to Russia and member states of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU).

The Prime Minister further proposed that Russia consider negotiating amendments to the free trade agreement between Vietnam and the EAEU, including the complete removal of safeguard measures applied to Vietnamese textile and footwear exports to Russia and the EAEU.

Regarding tourism, education and people-to-people exchanges, President Putin expressed a desire to expand the teaching and learning of the Russian language in Southeast Asian countries, including Vietnam, and affirmed continued support for Vietnamese students studying in Russia.

The two sides agreed to promote tourism cooperation and people-to-people exchanges, establish a Vietnam Cultural Center in Russia at an early date, consider the construction of a Russian school in Hanoi, and organize a Russian Cultural Season in Vietnam in 2027.

On this occasion, Prime Minister Le Minh Hung extended an invitation to President Vladimir Putin to attend the APEC Economic Leaders' Week, which is expected to be held in Phu Quoc, Vietnam, in 2027. He expressed confidence that the participation of President Putin and the Russian delegation would contribute to cooperation, development, peace and stability in the region and around the world.